Pesticide mafia and the Badal government responsible for the massive damage of cotton crop in Malwa, due to whitefly attack- Khaira

CHANDIGARH: Pesticide mafia and the Badal government responsible for
the massive damage of cotton crop in Malwa, due to whitefly attack: –
Khaira

After the utter failure of wheat, sugarcane and potato crops, it’s the
turn of cotton considered to be the most precious crop of Malwa due to
a severe attack by the whitefly.
As per reports, more than 50 percent of the standing crop of cotton in
the Malwa region has been severely affected by the whitefly attack,
forcing the farmers to plough the crop that was almost ready for
harvest.

The main reason for the failure of cotton crop due to whitefly attack,
is the deep nexus between the pesticide mafia and the Badal
government. It has come to light, that recently a group of pesticide
mafia was nabbed by the Bajakhana police near Baghapurana police
checkpoint with Rs. 40 lac cash, which was supposed to be paid as
bribe to the Agriculture Minister Jathedar Tota Singh. The said Rs. 40
lac was meant to be paid to Jathedar Tota Singh to allow purchase of
spurious pesticide for spraying the cotton crop to curb the menace of
whitefly. The said pesticide mafia was allowed to scott free after the
political bosses exhorted pressure on the local police. Since the
spurious pesticide prescribed by the government failed to control the
whitefly attack, more than 50 percent of standing cotton crop has been
destroyed.

This unholy nexus between the pesticide mafia and Akali bigwigs is the
main reason for destruction of cotton crop in Malwa, leaving the
farmers in complete lurch. The said failure of more than 50 percent
cotton crop will further add to the woes of already indebted farmers
and will lead to more suicides in Punjab.

Mr. Badal should hang his head in shame for allowing his Ministers to
compromise the interests of farmers for petty financial gains. He
should not forget that it is due to the farmers of Punjab, that he is
Chief Minister for the 5th time. Although Mr. Badal and the Akali Dal
claim to be the sole champions of the farmer rights, but they have
been betraying the cause of the farming fraternity ever since the Modi
government has come into power. If the Badal government cannot rescue
the farmers from the current agrarian crises, how can it think of
implementing the Swaminathan Committee recommendations for higher MSP,
as per their election manifesto promise?

Therefore, keeping in view such large scale destruction of cotton crop
due to spurious usage of pesticides, Congress demands a judicial
inquiry to unearth the unholy nexus between pesticide mafia and Akali
politicians. Congress also demands a special “Girdawri” of the entire
cotton crop destroyed by whitefly attack and a minimum compensation of
Rs. 20,000 per acre, so that the farmers are able to recover the cost
of input incurred by them to grow the said crop.